Lusby woman looking to give skaters more options

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

With only one public in-county skateboard park in Dunkirk, and another on the way in Chesapeake Beach, Calvert skateboarders, particularly those at the southern end of the county, have few places to practice their ollies and grinds.

Many are too young to drive and live far enough away from Dunkirk District Park that parents cannot regularly take them there. These young skaters are instead relegated to driveways, neighborhood streets, sidewalks and, in some cases, shopping centers, where their presence is often maligned, even prohibited.

Debbie Thomas of Lusby, owner of the online-based DACS Skate Shop, has heard from several local skaters that the backlot of a local grocery store in Lusby is a popular haunt. But she would like to offer a more desirable and permanent venue for sidewalk surfers and has ongoing plans to open both a physical location for her store, which sells various skateboarding merchandise, and an indoor skating park in Lusby.

The county does have plans to add skate parks at the Hollowing Point and Cove Point District Parks.

In the meantime, Thomas has applied for a $25,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project, which provides funding every month for up to 32 community projects across the nation, according to its website.

Thomas, the mother of four boys, three of whom skate, has her sights set on producing a traveling skatepark, complete with mobile ramps, live entertainment and prize giveaways, that would set up on summer weekends at various spots like county parks or church parking lots.

"It would give the skaters and their friends a place to skate," she said. "The importance would be just giving them a place to skate without getting in trouble." Thomas also hopes a summer tour can show those who look down on skateboarding that it can be an activity that brings communities together.

If awarded, the grant would pay for the ramps, a DJ, liability documents, transportation, storage, reservations and refreshments, according to the proposal's webpage.

Each month, the Pepsi project's website features submitted proposals in four different categories — those applying for $5,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $250,000 grants. Up to 1,000 ideas are accepted each month.

Grants are given based on online votes to up to two projects in the $250,000 category and 10 in each of the other three. A total of $1.3 million is currently available each month.

Last month, Thomas's idea finished 40th in its category and was automatically carried over to May's voting. As of Tuesday morning, a total of 1,341 ideas were in the running while Thomas's proposal ranked 188th in the $25,000 category.

To vote for the DACS Skateboarding Summer Project, go to www.refresheverything.com/dacsskateboarding or dacsskateboarding.com.

CMS gets $500 for "Rocking the Red"

The Washington Capitals selected Calvert Middle School as one of five March winners of its Caps Care Click To Win program. Calvert Middle will receive a $500 grant from Washington Capitals Charities.

All five schools submitted photos of their students "Rocking the Red," which were posted in an online poll that lasted from April 25 through May 3. Schools with 501(c)(3) status may register for the program at www.WashingtonCaps.com/click-to-win.

Blue Crabs support Calvert RFL

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs and Calvert Relay For Life have partnered to offer game vouchers for $13. The Blue Crabs selected Calvert Relay for Life as one of its "Crabs for a Cause" groups, one of which is chosen at each of the team's 10 Thursday night home games. For each voucher sold, the team will donate $6.50 back to Relay for Life.

Calvert Relay for Life co-chair Paula Rosnage, who lost her mother to cancer, threw out the first pitch and accepted the $1,775 check alongside two cancer survivors at the May 14 Blue Crabs game.

Observe National Safe Boating Week

With summer approaching and boaters waking vessels from winter slumbers, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary will be hosting events during National Safe Boating Week, which lasts from May 22 to 28.

In 2008, 4,789 boating accidents were reported, leading to 709 deaths, 3,331 injuries and an estimated $54 million in property damages, according to Coast Guard statistics. More than two-thirds of those fatalities were the result of drowning, and in 90 percent of those cases the victim was not wearing a lifejacket, according to a Coast Guard release.

The auxiliary encourages boaters to enroll in safety courses, receive a free vessel safety check and wear lifejackets. Local course listings and safety-check locations and dates can be found online at www.5sr232.info.

For more, go to www.safeboatingcampaign.com.

Camp supports grieving children

Calvert Hospice is accepting applications for Camp Phoenix, a summer day-camp for Calvert children ages 7 to 15 who are grieving the death of someone close to them. Two sessions are being offered — July 7, 8 and 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kings Landing Park in Huntingtown and Aug. 4, 5 and 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the East-John Youth Center in Lusby.

The free camp gives children the chance to share their feelings of grief and loss with others in a supportive environment while enjoying normal camp activities like swimming, sports, games and crafts. Professional counselors and trained volunteers will also lead group discussions and creative activities, according to a release.

The registration deadline for both sessions is June 18. For more information or to register, call Stacey Newman at 410-535-0892 or e-mail snewman@calverthospice.org.

Beach Trolley begins third season

The Beach Trolley Association will kick off its third summer season on Friday, May 28 at noon in the Dunkirk Shopping Center, where the trolley, which currently serves the Twin Beaches area, will now travel on a new route. Lisa Baden of WTOP radio will emcee the event, according to a release.

The current routes have trolleys running from the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum to Harrington Harbor South and from Harrington Harbor South to the Skipper's Pier in Deale. The new route will go from the museum and stop at the Walmart, Giant and Safeway stores in Dunkirk.